Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Plus:  Noridian gears up as new DME MAC in Jurisdiction D.

Long-term care providers' claims won't require a National Provider Identifier (NPI) until May 2007, but they may need one sooner.
 
That was the preliminary word from federal officials speaking at the SNF/Long-Term Care Open Door Forum held June 6. Officials from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reminded nursing homes to get their NPI now if they haven't already.

The new numbers, issued in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, will be required for all Medicare billing beginning in May. CMS officials plan to clarify the need for an NPI as it relates to recertification at the next SNF Open Door Forum.

Providers can apply for a number online at https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/StaticForward.do?forward=static.instructions. The process takes about 20 minutes, according to CMS officials. To apply on paper, providers can print out the form available at www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/Downloads/NPIapplication.pdf. Download New OASIS Manuals, CMS Instructs CMS has revised its OASIS manuals in light of the new reporting regulation that took effect last month.

Among other things, the new reporting regulation eliminated the seven-day lock date, although agencies still must lock or transmit their OASIS data before submitting requests for anticipated payment.

Home health agencies should download and print the new Implementation Manual, System User's Guide, OASIS Validation Report Guide, and HAVEN Reference Manual, CMS recommends. They are available online at www.cms.hhs.gov/HomeHealthQualityInits/14_HHQIOASISUserManual.asp.

CMS plans to issue a revised Chapter 8 of the OASIS User's Manual this summer, the agency says. "We recommend that each new chapter be printed so agencies can be assured that their manual is complete and accurate," the agency says on the Web site. Next DME MAC On Deck Noridian Administrative Services expects to transition to the Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor (DME MAC) for Jurisdiction D this fall.

As the DME MAC, Noridian will provide services for Jurisdiction D Medicare beneficiaries and Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers. Jurisdiction D is comprised of Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

More information about the transition is online at https://www.noridianmedicare.com/.